Unbeaten hurdler Billy Boy will make his debut over the bigger fences at Te Aroha on Sunday, with a view on returning to the track for a lucrative feature early in the new season. After warming up in four flat runs this campaign, Billy Boy came out firing over fences, maintaining his unblemished record with victories in the Manawatu Hurdle (2500m) and Wellington Hurdles (3200m). The son of So You Think is currently a $4.20 second-favourite for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m), but trainer Jo Rathbone…
Month: July 2025
Dragonstone Leads Donnelly’s Metro Final Team
By Michael Guerin The headache horse of Arna Donnelly’s stable has a few problems of her own at Alexandra Park tonight. But that doesn’t mean Dragonstone can’t win her $35,000 TAB Racing Club Metro Final and give her trainer a shot at the feature race double. The Metro series, made up of heats then finals for nearly double the stake, have been a huge help to maintaining field size and interest during harness racing’s winter months and tonight’s two fit the bill: even and interesting. Donnelly has last Friday’s impressive…
Cameron’s Double Threat Among Winter Rewards Highlights
by Michael Guerin Kyle Cameron has two chances in the same $25,000 Winter Rewards Trot at Addington tonight and one may help, or hinder, the other. Cameron takes three of his 20-strong team to the meeting which hosts five $25,000 Winter Rewards races, decent bonuses for those horses who keep the industry ticking over while the stars are resting. While Cameron suggests Gimmesomelovin (R3, No.4) can get some money is his 2600m mobile if the pace is on throughout, it is the main Winter Rewards Trot that sees him with…
Comeback trail begins for Cup hope Mark Twain
One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday. The lightly-raced son of Shocking won last year’s Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington to secure a place in the 2024 Melbourne Cup only for a tendon injury last spring to quash the Cup dream. A year on and the rising six-year-old has pleased in his recovery with the OTI-raced gelding on the Cup…
Carston collects unique double on synthetic
Riccarton horseman Andrew Carston collected a winning double at his local synthetic meeting on Thursday, firstly as an owner and later as a trainer. From his own barn, Delmonico (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) was aiming for back-to-back victories in the BMC Construction Rating 75 1600, having caught Rule Of Law (NZ) (Justify)right on the line last start on the all-weather surface. In the hands of Krishna Mudhoo, the gelding was customarily slow away, before coming through on the rail to settle in fifth. The big-striding Peecee Pussycat (NZ) (Pure Champion)…
Furness looking to replicate family history
Tony Furness will head to Otaki with family history on his side when he tackles the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) with his promising juvenile Reconvene (NZ) (Derryn) on Saturday. His father, Bert Furness, won the race with High Saint (NZ), and Furness would dearly love to repeat the feat. “Dad won the race 50-odd years ago, I was 14 or 15 back then,” he said. “I won a couple of trials on the horse myself, but I think Bob Skelton was a wee bit better…
Coppins confident with strong Cambridge book
Budding junior driver Kate Coppins heads to Cambridge Raceway tonight with a strong book of four drives, and plenty of reasons to be optimistic. She kicks off her night in Race 1, the Christmas At The Raceway Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot (5:41p.m.) aboard President Flynntin. The pair have been in a rich vein of form lately, booking a cheque in all their last four starts. This season has been the geldings most successful yet, amassing two wins and a further seven placings, all of which with Coppins in the…
Wait for Eagle Rock proving worthwhile
Capable race mare Sea Eagle (NZ) left the best until last during her brief breeding career. The daughter of Group One winner Don Eduardo’s final foal is the promising Eagle Rock (NZ) (Eagle Rock), who will attempt to add to his record in the Property Brokers Taumarunui 3YO (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The El Roca gelding is prepared by part-owner and breeder Kylie Little who trained Sea Eagle to win on six occasions, including two editions of the Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) at Trentham. Of her two previous live…
Waverley assignment for National-bound Jesko
The short-priced favourite for the upcoming Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), will step out on the flat at Waverley on Friday as he readies for his biggest test yet in a fortnight. The son of Atlante commenced his current campaign at Waverley in April, and in the hands of his co-trainer Shaun Fannin downed his Rating 65 rivals over 2200m. That trend continued when he stepped out over fences, winning a restricted open steeplechase at Wanganui and claiming feature crowns in the…
Prosperous period continues for Ferrando
Graeme Rogerson has watched on with pride as the progeny of Ferrando have begun to hit their straps of late, and even more so when his homebred filly, Prosper (NZ) (Ferrando), powered to victory on debut at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday. Rogerson, who trained and part-owns Ferrando, has been a strong supporter of the Group One-performing son of Fast ‘N’ Famous since his arrival at Westbury Stud, with Prosper among his second crop of juveniles to race. Prosper trialled twice in heavy track conditions before stepping out in the…